Zambia blames opposition for anti-China attacks

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping before their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 1, 2018. Nicolas Asfouri/Pool via REUTERS

Zambia’s government accused the opposition on Friday of fuelling “xenophobic” attacks on Chinese nationals after a spate of violent incidents targeting the community and its businesses.

Anti-Chinese sentiment in Zambia has grown as the government increasingly hands lucrative contracts to the country while borrowing huge sums from Beijing.

Vice President Inonge Wina told parliament that “xenophobic attacks on Chinese (are) politically motivated because of the utterances that politicians make”.

Her intervention follows sporadic rioting in the towns of Buchi and Kawama this week when millers took to the streets to protest after rumours that a Zambian timber company had been sold to Chinese buyers.